July 08, 2009 News+Opinion » Features

City Carriage Review Cites Violations 

First look under new animal care ordinance

by Greg Hambrick

Latest in Features

Horse carriage companies have been cited for a host of infractions as the City of Charleston does its first veterinary review under new animal welfare guidelines.

The inspection of each of the five downtown horse carriage operators was performed in late May and early June by Dr. Amy Hayek and city staff, prior to an unrelated review of the Polo Carriage Co. over concerns about horses that have died over the past few years.

There were a myriad of infractions, says Tourism Director Vanessa Turner-Maybank. Each carriage company has been given a timeline in which to address concerns.

"Inspections and guidance ensure that we stay on top of the overall care of the animals," she says.

The input from an independent vet is a good thing, says Tommy Doyle, operator of Palmetto Carriage Co.

"We are very open to a different way to do things that's better for our animals," he says.

And the accountability will help ensure all operators are conforming to the city's stringent standards.

"To follow the rules is very expensive," Doyle says. "The system the city has in place is fantastic, but the rules need to be followed."

Among the city's findings:

• Chlorine bleach was a common disinfectant used in stalls. It can produce a life-threatening gas when mixed with horse urine. Poor ventilation and low ceilings contribute to this problem.

• While all horse stalls met city standards, the report states they need to be uniformly larger to improve animal digestive health and muscle function.

• The main concern was poor hoof quality. Increased monitoring and alternatives to shoes, including boots, were suggested.

• Only Palmetto Carriage Co. seemed to be feeding animals enough hay. Others were relying too heavily on substitutes.

• Horses would benefit from more consistent cleaning of their genitals to reduce hygiene problems.

• Some health records were not consistent or easily accessible.

• None of the carriage company owners knew established weight limits or the weight of their own carriages. Many carriages had improper attachments, putting unnecessary stress on the animals.

• The city should have training requirements for carriage drivers that conforms to national standards, including harness cleaning and repair and emergency instruction.

In April, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called on Charleston to end horse-drawn carriage operations due to a string of horse accidents over the past few years that have caused several injuries and damage to passengers, vehicles, buildings, and public property.

Mayor Joe Riley refused, saying the industry had been "vigilantly" managed over the past 25 years and that the industry is "highly motivated to ensure safety for their riders and for their horses."

Here are city documents from the inspections:

Overview

Carolina Polo & Carriage Co.

Classic Carriage Co.

Olde South Carriage Co.

Olde Towne Carriage

Plametto Carriage Co.

Tags: , ,

Comments (6) RSS

Showing 1-5 of 6

Add a comment | All comments »

The City's carriage horse ordinance was passed 2 years ago. It's about time they did an inspection. After 3 years of "study" the City's tourism commission chose to continue to allow operators to basically regulate themselves. It is not surprising that these conditions continue. In my opinion, this is the ultimate "fox guarding the henhouse". While it is good that the City brought in an independent vet to look at the issue, independent oversight is not part of the ordinance. The Tourism Commission was given reams of materials published by noted authorities on humane treatment of carriage animals which they chose to ignore. Shame on this City. A black eye deserved.

Posted by carriage horse safety committee on July 6, 2009 at 4:23 PM | Report this comment

Along with the cruel or dismissive treatment of the animals, let's consider the health related issues for those choosing to ride in the carriages. We live in a state with one of the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and heart conditions. Let's encourage a lifestyle healthy for both man and beast - tour our city on foot, the best way to see it. Think WALKING!

Posted by hattlyn on July 6, 2009 at 9:03 AM | Report this comment

Along with the cruel or dismissive treatment of the animals, let's consider the health status of the citizens of SC. The state has one of the five top highest incidence of obesity, also high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. it goes on and on - how about encouraging our citizens to take a stroll through Charleston, best viewed on foot.
Spare the animals, save the people!

Posted by hattlyn on July 6, 2009 at 9:01 AM | Report this comment
Generic user icon

Here we go again. This is just another example of how the city of Charleston continues to find ways to make even more money off of vendors...it's atrocious that Charleston gets away with all the monies they collect from the carriage companies, who by the way, attract more tourists to Charleston!

Posted by FedUpWithTheFees on July 3, 2009 at 10:25 PM | Report this comment

Really, why is anyone pretending to be surprised? The Charleston carriage industry is politically entrenched, and anyone who is not a zombie can see how miserable the conditions are. In addition to the misery, having carriages on city streets is dangerous because of the propensity for horses to spook easily. It is a miracle that no one was killed in the January 2008 accident, when a carriage carrying 13 tourists overturned (6 were injured).

Posted by NotMyGovernor on July 3, 2009 at 12:01 PM | Report this comment

Add a comment

Classified Listings
  • Tokyo Bistro Just ate lunch there this week and it was great! They have a trendy, but… -CHS291
  • Il Cortile Del Re We went to Il Cortile after the Mike Moran Furniture show at Rebekah Jacob Gallery… -project_runwayHottie
  • Baked Heaven!!! The service was friendly & suggestive not to mention knowledgable on all the incredible… -alicia66
  • A.C.'s Bar and Grill Love A.C.'s brunch. Chicken and waffles are the best cure for a hangover. If you… -chaslovah
  • Tokyo Bistro The Sushi is AWESOME, their Dancing Dragon Roll is the best sushi I have ever… -Megan
Most Viewed


Powered by Foundation   © Copyright 2009, Charleston City Paper   RSS